UAE Bans Transit Visas, Tightens Entry Rules for Nigerians

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has once again imposed stricter visa conditions for Nigerians, further complicating travel plans for those hoping to visit Dubai.

According to information communicated to travel agents on Tuesday, UAE authorities have not only banned transit visa applications for Nigerians but have also introduced new limitations that significantly affect tourist visa eligibility.

One of the major changes states that Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45 are no longer eligible to apply for a tourist visa unless they are accompanied. For solo travelers above 45, the requirements have also become tougher.

Applicants aged 45 and above must now present a personal Nigerian bank statement covering the past six months, with each month showing a minimum closing balance of $10,000 or its naira equivalent. This is in addition to existing documentation such as hotel bookings and passport data pages.

This development comes less than a year after Nigeria and the UAE resolved a nearly two-year diplomatic dispute that led to a visa ban on Nigerians. Though the ban was lifted in 2023, it came with a set of restrictive terms that have already slowed the flow of Nigerian travelers to Dubai—once a top destination for business, tourism, and medical travel.

Now, travel agents say the situation is deteriorating even further.

“It’s getting worse by the day,” one travel consultant told Daily Trust. “Many people will no longer be able to meet the requirements.”

These new rules are expected to drastically reduce the number of Nigerians traveling to the UAE, especially young and middle-aged adults who often travel independently for leisure, work, or short-term visits.